Wetang'ula calls for speedy review of revised foreign policy as Kenya shapes global engagements
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described the revised policy as key to strengthening Kenya's role as a regional leader and an advocate for Africa's interests on the world stage.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has called on the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations to expedite the review of the recently re-launched Kenya Foreign Policy document.
He noted the urgency of the process, urging the committee to prioritise the review and submit it to the House for adoption as soon as possible.
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In a communication to the House on Thursday, Wetang'ula, a former Foreign Affairs minister, highlighted the importance of a well-defined foreign policy in shaping Kenya's global engagements.
"Honourable members, you will agree with me that the primacy of foreign policy in guiding a country's international relations cannot be gainsaid. Since this policy will guide the country's conduct in international affairs, its expedited approval by this House is necessary," he said.
The policy was tabled in Parliament by Deputy Leader of Majority Owen Baya and is currently under review by the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech.
Under consideration
While Koech confirmed that the policy was under consideration, he did not specify when his committee would present its report.
Speaker Wetang'ula also reflected on his tenure as Foreign Affairs minister, noting that he had prioritised Kenyan athletes as global ambassadors and placed the diaspora at the centre of the country's foreign policy.
"I also prioritised the diaspora in our foreign policy," he said.
The reviewed Kenya Foreign Policy 2024 was launched in December and approved by the Cabinet on January 21, 2025.
The document aims to enhance Kenya's global image and influence through a dynamic approach to diplomacy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described the revised policy as key to strengthening Kenya's role as a regional leader and an advocate for Africa's interests on the world stage.
Amend Foreign Service Act
To ensure effective implementation, the ministry plans to amend the Foreign Service Act, 2021, introduce new regulations, and table a Sessional Paper in Parliament.
President William Ruto, in his foreword to the Sessional Paper No. 1 on the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Kenya, stated that the document offers Parliament an opportunity for robust debate and legislative backing for its implementation.
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The revised policy updates the five pillars of the 2014 document, peace diplomacy, economic diplomacy, diaspora diplomacy, environmental diplomacy, and cultural diplomacy expanding them into seven focus areas.
These include peace and security diplomacy, economic and commercial diplomacy, social and cultural diplomacy, diaspora diplomacy, digital diplomacy, environmental and climate diplomacy, and global governance and multilateral diplomacy.
While largely maintaining the framework of the 2014 document, the new policy details specific sectors within these focus areas, covering trade and investment, the blue economy, tourism, and the transformation of Kenya's diplomatic missions into economic hubs.
The policy also acknowledges emerging trends in diplomacy, such as parliamentary diplomacy, digital and cyberspace diplomacy, global health diplomacy, and maritime issues.
It also outlines Kenya's nine key national interests, including territorial integrity, sovereignty, citizen security, economic growth, constitutionalism, environmental sustainability, and peaceful coexistence.
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